Palo Duro Dons overcome lightning in win against Plainview

PD improves to 2-0 for first time since 2001

Palo Duro's Charleston White, with the ball, shoves Plainview's quarterback Wes McCutcheon away after intercepting a halfback option pass that he returned 70 yards for a touchdown in their nondistrict high school football game Thursday night at Dick Bivins Stadium. That gave PD a 10-0 lead in the first quarter en route to a 34-8 win. PD led 34-6 with 2:48 left in the third quarter when the game was delayed because of lightning.

Palo Duro's Joseph Taylor, right, hits Plainview's Shirmar Jennings in their nondistrict high school football game Thursday night at Dick Bivins Stadium. PD won, 34-8. The Dons led 34-6 with 2:48 left in the third quarter when the game was delayed about an hour because of lightning.

Palo Duro's Joseph Taylor (22) drags Plainview's Ruben Lopez for extra yards in their nondistrict high school football game Thursday night at Dick Bivins Stadium. PD led 34-6 with 2:48 left in the third quarter when the game was delayed because of lightning.

Palo Duro's Charleston White (7) tries to turn the corner as Plainview's Ruben Lopez drives him toward the sideline in their nondistrict high school football game Thursday night at Dick Bivins Stadium. PD led 34-6 with 2:48 left in the third quarter when the game was delayed because of lightning.

The only thing that appears to be able to slow down the Palo Duro Dons in the first two weeks of the season is the weather.

It looked like Mother Nature was intent on delaying them from getting off to their best start in 11 years Thursday night, as Palo Duro beat Plainview, 34-8, after a lightning delay of about one hour.

UIL rules state that after a lightning strike is spotted, all outdoor athletic contests must be suspended for at least 30 minutes before they resume. If there is any other strike spotted, that adds another 30 minutes to the delay.

However, it only seemed to delay the inevitable for Palo Duro, which has started a season 2-0 for the first time since 2001.

For the second game in a row to open the season, Palo Duro got off to a quick start. And for the second game in a row, the Dons also didn’t look back.

Palo Duro dominated in the first half, although some self-inflicted Plainview wounds helped, as the Dons took a 27-0 halftime lead.

The Dons converted three Plainview turnovers in the first half into 17 points. A bobbled punt after PD’s first possession was recovered at Plainview’s 33-yard line, setting up a 27-yard Tito Estrada field goal that gave the Dons a 3-0 lead.

The Bulldogs resorted to some trickery on their first possession which backfired badly. They tried a halfback option pass with Daniel Miller throwing deep, but it was intercepted by Charleston White at the PD 30.

White not only broke away from intended receiver Desmond Vera, but he broke everybody else’s tackle attempt and outraced the Plainview offense for a 70-yard scoring return to give the Dons a 10-0 lead. That seemed to set the tone for the rest of the half.

Palo Duro only had to drive 54 yards for the first offensive touchdown of the game when Antaun Turner scored on a 6-yard run on the first play of the second quarter to make it 17-0.

Estrada kicked a 28-yard field goal on Palo Duro’s next possession, then went up 27-0 with 1:14 left in the half on Anthony McClain’s 5-yard run. That came two plays after Jimaine Westmoreland recovered a fumble by Plainview quarterback Wes McCutcheon.

Plainview got on the board by taking the second-half kickoff and driving for a touchdown on a 4-yard run by Daniel Miller. But the Dons answered back on the ensuing possession when Malik Sims hit Montrel Meander on a pretty 43-yard scoring pass to make it 34-6.

Three plays after the kickoff, the Bulldogs faced a fourth-and2 at their own 33 when officials stopped the game because of lightning

After the game resumed, the only score came when Plainview was awarded a safety on a bad snap out of Palo Duro’s end zone.

There was a bit of a letdown in the second half for the Dons after the lightning delay. They didn’t manage a first down, as Meander’s touchdown catch was Palo Duro’s only first down of the second half.

Plainview also ended up with a statistical edge, although most of that came after the Dons had built up a big lead. Plainview outgained PD by a 296-198 margin, and had more first downs by a 15-9 count.

Miller (111 yards) and McCutcheon (103) ran for more than 100 yards for Plainview.